Cole returned to Rogersville, Mo. to his old high school, Logan-Rogersville. The former Bobcat held a free youth football camp with over 300 kids registering for his eponymous camp held Saturday.

Said Cole: “It’s something I would have never thought about, I’m so happy and blessed I get to do this.”

The proposition for Cole making the Texans was a hard one, but he proved worthy of his opportunities in 2017. Even though Houston floundered to a 4-12 finish after winning the AFC South the year prior, Cole’s play was one of the few bright spots. The Missouri State product had 25 tackles, a sack, three passes defensed, and two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

“I found my niche and I’m going to continue to grow on that,” said Cole. “The league is about the more you can do. If you learn to do more, the longer you’ll stay and the more time you’ll get to play.”

Cole missed four games last season with a hamstring injury, and he started in just one of the remaining 12. Paired with fellow rookie inside linebacker Zach Cunningham, Cole endeavored to keep a defense competitive that had lost its superstar in defensive end J.J. Watt and a devastating pass-rusher in outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus. But Cole and Cunningham’s efforts impressed Mercilus.

“Cole with some speed, both of them have tremendous speed but they are very instinctual,” Mercilus said on April 17. “To see them meld into this defense, it’s been a sight to see. You can see it, them running from side to side. Cole running with a receiver last year, that’s impressive within itself.”

The Texans can use more youthful leadership from inside at linebacker, and Cole looks to be in the thick of things when training camp commences in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. later this month.

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